Liquid-level indicator.



A. J. STEGKER. LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 19Q8.

917,808. Patented Ap1'.18, 1909.-

mimrnsm g u Fig. 3.

Attumrqn ITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

ALFRED J. STECKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A SSIGNOR TO FRED WARDELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

- Application filed November 23, 1908. *Serial No. 464,176.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFnED J. STECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of'l/Vayne, State of Michigan, have mvented certain new and useful mg drawings, and to the figures of reference 4 marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a liquid level in-' dicator for tanks, and consists n1 the-construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully .set forth and pointed out particularly inthe claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a liquid level indicating device of struction, wherein the arrangement is such as to enable the liquid level of a gasolene tank or other vessel to be at all times accurately determined.

which may be quickly and easily placed in a tank, and wherein provision is made for adjusting said device to tanks of various sizes.

The above objects are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is asectional view of a portion of a tank showing my indicating device or gage mounted therein, a portion of said device appearing in section. Fig, 2 is a plan view of the dial. Fig.-3 is a horizontal section as on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operative parts, the float rod being broken away. Fig. 5 is a' perspective view of the lower end of the oscillatory shaft and the'slottcd arm mounted thereon.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates a flanged ring of any suitable diameter which is adapted to be soldered orotherwise secured in a suitable opening in the top of the tank-2. The exterior of said ring is threaded to receive an internally threaded collar 3 which screwsthereon and which is provided at'its uppercdge with a laterally projecting flange 4 adapted to extend onto the upper surface of a glass disk 5 which lies upon the upper edge of the ring 1. Below the disk 5 and spaced therefrom is a dial plate 6 which is supported upon a laterally projecting shoulder 7 of the ring 1.. Resting upon the margin of the dial plate is an'annular confining band 8 formed preferably of spring metal which is sprung into place within the ring 1 and which is of such width as to engage the lower side of the glass disk 5. By this arrangement when the collar 3 is screwed into place, all of said parts are socurcly confined within the ring 1.

Depending from the dial plate is a rod 9 which serves as a hanger and Whose upper end is provided with a tenon 10 which is riving from the end portion 13. comparatively simple and inexpensive coneted in said plate, whereby said hanger is rigidlyattached. thereto. To the lower end of the hanger 9 is rigidly secured a bracket 1 1 having the vertical end portions 12 and 13 respectively and the horizontally extending portion 14 formed integral with and project- Journaled atits up )er end in thedial plate 6 is a vertical rock shaft 15 having fixed to the upper'end thereof an indicating hand 16 whose'free end is adapted to sweep a gradu-' i ate-d scale 17 on said plate which describes A further object is to provide a unitary structure of the character above described provided with a triangular shaped opening 19. The inner end of said arm extends some distance beyond the shaft 15, as shown at 20, for purposes hereinafter set forth. 1

J ourn aled in the end portions of thebracket 11 is a horizontal rock shaft 21 having at one end a crank arm 22 which extends upwardly and projects through the triangular opening 19 in the arm 18. The opposite end of said shaft 21 is provided with a horizontally extending arm 23 carrying upon the free end thereof a sleeve 24. Passing through said slccve and adjust-aldy secured therein by a set screw 25 is a rod 26 carrying at its free end afloat 27. It will now be undeistood that as the float rises and falls, the shaft 21' shaft 15 will cause the hand 16 to traverse the graduations on the dial plate, the position of said hand when at rest indicating the quantity of liquid in the tank. The osition of the hand in Fig. 2 indicates that t e tank is empty. Were the hand at the opposite end of the graduated are or quadrant, it

would indicate that the tank was full. The

I graduations in the are between the letters E and F indicate the intermediate levels of the liquid within the tank. By this arrange ment the quantity of liquid in the tank may be readily determined at all times by reference to the position of the indicatin hand on the dial plate. By regulatingthe ength of the float rod 26 the gage may be adjusted or a tank of any capacity.

It will .be observed that because of the shape of the opening 19, the crank arm 22 cannot become wedged therein when swung to the limit of its movement in either direction; It will further be observed that the connection between the shafts 15 and 21 is such that motion is imparted from the latter to' the former with but comparatively little friction, making the gage very sensitive in its operation.

The projecting end of the arm 18 when said arm is swung to the limit of its movement tothe right, strikes the hangerfgwhic h serves as a stop for said arm" to prevent it traveling so far as to allow the crank arm 22 to pass fromthe opening 19 therein. When swinging to the limit of its movementin'the opposite direction, said arm 18 is arrested by engaging said hanger 9, as shown by dotted lines 1n Fig.-3.

The parts being all attached directly to the dial plate and the dial plate being secured.

7 Withm' the ring 1, enablesthe gage or liquid What I claim as new Letters Patent, is:

level indicator to .be quickly and easily mounted in a tank without. disturbing the operative arts.

Having, has fully ,set forth my invention,

and desire "to secure by 1. A liquid level indicator, comprising a lower end in said bracket, a .per end of said shaft, an actuating arm on eras ca hanger, means for sup orting said hanger within a tank, a dial p ate, a verticalshaft journaled at its upper end in said dial plate,- an indicating hand on the upper end of said shaft, a bracket on the lower end of said hanger, the lower end of said shaft being journaled in said bracket, an apertured arm mounted on said shaft and movable therewith, a second shaft also journaled in sald bracket having a crank arm engaging freely in the aperture of said first mentioned arm, a float, and means connecting said float wlth.

said second shaft.

2. A liquid level indicator, com rising a hanger, means for supporting sai hanger Within a tank, a dial plate, a bracket supported on said hanger, a vertical shaft sup- 3 shoul er, means for'confining said dial plate in'place, a hanger depending from and secured to said dial plate having a bracket at its lower end, a vertical shaft journaled at its upper-end in said dial plate and at its and on the upthe lower end of said haft, a horizontal shaft journaled in said .br cket, anarm on said of a tank,

orted by said bracket, .a y

horizontal shaft freely engaging the arm on the vertical shaft, a float, and an arm carry- In .testimonyfwhereof, I sign this specification in thepresence of two witnesses.

. ALFRED J. STECKER,

VVitnes'ses: I

O. B; Bannzrenn, I. G. Howmn'r'r.

I ing said float attached to the horizontal shaft. 

